Reviews by yuenglingade:

More User Reviews:

I have always been a Dark Horse fan, and really appreciate their beers, especially their IPAs and yearly stout lineup, so I feel like I have some insight into their taste and brand, but I also am full of a lot of hot air. Nonetheless, I have some air to blow:

A - Color is dark and opaque. Tan head is adequate and welcome, not overpowering nor underwhelming - a nice, friendly quality.

S - Dark and sweet malts fill the nose. There is a little bit of the fruity ale yeast esters that adds to the complexity of the aroma, drawing one into the beer, and chocolate aromas are distinguishable amongst the rest of the vapors.

T - It may be naive to say, but for me, Baltic porters were supposed to be the "Imperial porters" of the style, and those Imperial stouts have made me wanting more from my Baltic porters. Sure the definitions call for deep and sweet malts, fruit esters, alcohol, and more profound characteristics than in their lighter brethren, but Thirst Trout drinks more like a moderately-complex porter than an Imperial ale, combining a bit of either category and leaning toward one another in different sips.

O - Very good and drinkable porter, though not necessarily a Baltic porter. The thing is (and here I go blowing my hot air) that it really has the taste of the other Dark Horse dark beers. There is something identifiable in the recipe that one can specifically say is Dark Horse, as it is a profile that they have in their other beers. And that is not to say it is a bad thing - it is refreshing to drink something that you know where it came from and it is a trait that they carry over from brewing to brewing - and its nice to have a consistent friend to come back to from time to time. (1,835 characters)

A very reasonably $8.25 for a 32oz growler at Michigan Beer Growler Company.

This is basically the very definition of a -- and I tend to dislike using the word this way -- solid porter. Really, my only beef with this beer is that I actually find it slightly too sweet. A little more roastiness would really make this a great beer. As it stands now, it's just a well-made, pretty standard porter. Good body for the style, smells quite nice, has enough flavor to keep you interested...

Fine example of a nice well-rounded porter. Sweet toasty chocolate malts are perfectly balanced by a bit of cola, black pepper, some nice walnut, and a bit of spicy floral hops on the backside. Only had this beer and One Oatmeal Stout from Dark Horse but I will be looking out for them in the future. These guys seem to really know their stouts. (345 characters)

A thick, almost heavy dark brown that allows very little light to pierce it, this beer certainly looks like a bigger sort of porter. The light brown head is compact and creamy, showing moderate retention and leaving moderate-to-strong patching on the glass.It has the elements on the nose: strong malts, some roast, ground coffee, dark cocoa, and, interestingly a touch of something like licorice. Something like burnt nut sneaks out, too.Roasty and a bit nutty with some esters giving off notes of dark fruits adding a little too much tang, espresso is fairly strong, as is some powdery bittersweet cocoa. Nut and charred woods finish it out with a hint of something soil-like but unoffensive.It's a porter, but it doesn't have quite the heft or build a Baltic porter ought to. It's mildly dry off some char. Carbonation and crispness are kept in check and, while it could use a bit of a more well-rounded smoothness, it isn't lacking too much. (948 characters)

A deepened purple-tinged brown that mimics black from afar. A yellowed tan head rides on top.
Nose full of chocolate syrup, vanilla beans, flaky toffee, and roasted herbs.
That full-on Dark Horse roastedness is manifest from the get-go. Lighter here than in their Smoked Stout, as it certainly should be. But permanently adhered grill residue, charcoal nuggets and burnt, extra bitter dark chocolate are all still here. Lightens towards the middle as a sweet, milky (not lactic) vanilla-caramel hue drifts in. Finishes upturned in bitterness, with citrus and wilted flowers.
Sub-medium body, but astutely structured, and drinkable in gallon+ doses. Though I lack the quantity to prove that statement.

More of a porter slash brown than a baltic porter, on tap at Hopcat. Brown with carbonation bubbles. Average mouthfeel. Malty. Licorice brown taste. A little roast, more licorice than chocolate, and a tad coffee. Much better at the brewery, better mouthfeel.. (259 characters)

This is a nice porter. It has a nice flavor profile that is intricate but simple. The body offers great drinkability. Overall, a good, well-rounded porter. It probably won't please everybody, but for me this is a porter I would go back to. (533 characters)

Bro-in-law comes through with this brilliant porter from DH. The beer rated low on appearance because there wasn't a decent head present..nor did it lace. The smell and taste however were very good. The scent had dark roast chocolate. The taste was slightly sweet yet bitter....somewhat like the semi-sweet chocolates used for chocolate chip cookies. The mouthfeel was full body with smooth carbonation. Overall this is a great porter....sessionable for sure. (459 characters)